Vampire Weekend

The new Vampire Weekend single was just released on ithinkuracontra.com!! Go check it out, sign up for the mailing list, rejoice and wait four months for an album!

Also:

Vampire Weekend (OS) - Horchata

Phoenix (Remix)

Oh boy! Oh my! Following this year's release of 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,' Phoenix quickly became the most remixed band of the year. Fortunately, their not another MIA, eh? One of my favorite albums of the year is getting the [official] remix treatment. That is, a new remix album, first digital (Oct. 13) then a 2XCD pack (Oct. 19) with the original album and the remixes. Passion Pit, YACHT, Animal Collective... it's gonna be a doozy. Check the track list down there and if that doesn't convince you then let Devendra do it for you.

01 Lisztomania (Alex Metric Remix)
02 Fences (The Soft Pack Remix)
03 1901 Bo Flex'd (Passion Pit Remix)
04 Lasso (2 Door Cinema Club Remix)
05 Fences (25 Hrs a Day Remix)
06 1901 (L'aiglon Remix)
07 Love Like a Sunset (Turzi Remix)
08 Fences (Boombass Remix)
09 Lisztomania (A Fight For Love – 25 Hrs a Day Remix)
10 Fences (Friendly Fires Remix)
11 Armistice (YACHT Remix)
12 Girlfriend (Young Fathers Remix)
13 Fences (Chairlift Remix)
14 Rome (Neighbours with Devendra Banhart Remix)
15 Love Like a Sunset (Animal Collective Remix - Deakin's Jam)


Phoenix (MS) - Rome (Neighbours With Devendra Banhart).mp3

PS The Animal Collective remix of Love Like a Sunset is incredible....

Vampire Weekend

oh boy, oh boy. January will be a good month.

The Drums

Just caught this track over at NeonGold and it kicks ass. As it is now, it won't be appearing on any upcoming releases, but it's wonderful nonetheless. Don't forget to check the myspace page for deliciously catchy songs, such as 'Let's Go Surfing.' Here's to squeezing every last ounce out of summer.

The Drums (MS) - Me and the Moon (demo)

PS Playing at the Nectar in Seattle in November ;-)

Islands

New track from our favorite Nick Thorburn. Sounds like he's abandoning the new approach he took on Arm's Way to take a new one for the upcoming album Vapours, to be released on Anti- on September 22nd. This time around, Jamie Thompson returns to an album full of drum machines, synths, electric guitars, sitars, and bass. I think you'll sense the change quickly. Go listen!

UPDATE!
Just caught the new single 'Vapours.' INCREDIBLE!! It definitely builds on and refines the sound that was introduced to us with 'No You Don't.' Sounds like a more traditional, more twangy-rock/pop approach to Thorburn's lyrics. Still, a far-cry from Return the Sea's mega pop sound and Arm's Way's heavy, dark sound. I love it. I'm at least ten times more excited for this album. On top of that, Thorburn's vocals have shifted to full gear, driving the song to it's delicious climax. Yum.

'Vapours' @ Pitchfork.com

Islands OS|MS - No You Don't

The Sound of Arrows

Delicious, summer-sounding, electro-pop from Sweden. Slowly but surely, the swedes are conquering this genre (See: jj). The Swedish duo released their first single, M.A.G.I.C. last February. It's a stellar track, but has nothing on the new single "Into the Clouds." The track and accompanying video are entirely self-produced. Check both the singles below and the (stunning) video on their official website.

This is too good. Listen up:

The Sound of Arrows (MySpace) | (Offical Site)
M.A.G.I.C. | Into The Clouds

Neon Indian

Check it. It's awesome.

Neon Indian (MS) - Deadbeat Summer

Debut LP Psychic Chasms officially available on October 13th, 2009.

jj

jj - Things Will Never Be The Same Again from the new album 'n° 2.'

Available on Sincerely Yours.

Mazes

Occasionally, I'll decide to listen to a band based solely on the band name and/or album title.

It's been a long time since I was so lucky to find something worth listening too...

Mazes - Mazes

It's not quite lo-fi (mid-fi??), a little folky, and bleeding independent from every pore. They are from Chicago. 'They' are Caroline Donovan, Edward Anderson, Charles D’Autremont, and miscellaneous members of some of Chicago's best bands. Each song, supposedly, was written and recorded 'on the spot, with beer.'

The album is simply perfect. So, check it out. Pretty please?

Mazes (MS) | I Have Laid In The Darkness of Doubt (MP3)

Buy their album on:
iTunes | Amazon | eMusic

Phoenix!!!

I really like these two songs and I am super excited for this album. I feel like Lasso has been getting a bit more hype than 1901 but I find 1901 to be alot more enganging. They are both pretty awesome tho. Well actually it already leaked but the quality is pretty low so Im really looking forward to having it in all its high fidelity glory.

Hooray for the French Strokes!

(MS / OS)

Pheonix - 1901

Pheonix - Lasso

Starfucker

Oh thank heavens.

From the upcoming Starfucker LP Jupiter, I would like to present the synth-heavy, get your ass moving, don't fuck with me song: Medicine.

Enjoy enjoy! I'm glad they are continuing TV talking thing (a la Florida.)

get it:
Starfucker (MS) - Medicine

Something tells me the days of Starfucker house parties are over. I heard they kicked major ass at SXSW. Holla for P-town. <3

A quick little mindfuck...

To whet your appetite for the Passion Pit LP, Manners, coming soon...

Here's the new fucking single!!! eat it up:

Passion Pit (MS) - The Reeling

Is anyone else blown away by the new direction??? I have a feeling the LP is going to destroy expectations, and that is nearly impossible to believe.

LP>EP??? We'll find out soon...

Here's the making of video for the song. Children's choir? HELLA CHILLENS CHOIR!

Moriarty

Oh yay.

I've been crossing my fingers for some good folk music to come my way, and, thanks to the lovely and talented Coline, it has arrived!!

The band is based in Paris and their recently released debut album "Gee Whiz But This Is A Lonely Town" is wonderful. Obvious Kerouac reference aside, they uphold their namesake. With band members from France, the United States, Vietnam, and Switzerland, and recent shows at mental institutions, prisons, in castles, and on boats - I can't help but feel a little 'Beat Generation' revival.

Powerful lead vocals, cited influences such as Peggy Lee, Simon Gallup, and Billie Holiday, as well as a more classic folk sound make this album a bit of gem amongst the countless up and coming folk bands with the same flavor and gimmicks.

Plus, they sing about buffalo.

Moriarty (MS)|(OS) - Jimmy

Listen to some of those myspace tracks! They are great. Their album is available on iTunes. And you should also maybe keep an eye out for them on their tour:

March
07 march, GENEVE (CH), Casino Théâtre, Voix de Fête
08 march, BERN (CH), Bee Flat
14 march, TORONTO (CA), Canadian Music Week
18 - 22 march, AUSTIN (USA), SXSW Festival
28 march, PUTEAUX (FR), Festival Chorus des Hauts de Seine, Carte Blanche
29 march, MARNE LA VALLEE (FR), Labomatic Théâtres à La Ferme du Buisson

April
02 april, MOUSCRON (BE), Centre Culturel
04 april, CHÊNÉE (BE), Centre Culturel

May
06 may, STRASBOURG (FR), La Laiterie 20 ans du Fair + Narrow Terence & The Rodeo
09 may, CHARLEROI (BE), L'Eden
22 may, LUXEMBOURG (LU), Mondorf Les Bains

June
20 june, BRUXELLES (BE), Place des Palais
27 june, NAMUR (BE), Festival Verdur Rock

*thx co ;-)

Shit just got hot

I was quietly celebrating the new Cursive album when I read this:



Release date: May 18 (UK) May 26 (US)
Tracks:
01 Make Light
02 Little Secrets
03 Moth's Wings
04 The Reeling
05 Eyes as Candles
06 Swimming in the Flood
07 Folds in Your Hands
08 To Kingdom Come
09 Sleepyhead
10 Let Your Love Grow Tall
11 Seaweed Song

Maybe I should stop pretending this is a music blog and just blog about Passion Pit.

Erlend Øye

Let's just talk about this incredible man.

He's cranking out two new albums this year! One for his band The Whitest Boy Alive (street date 3/02/09). And one for Kings of Convenience!

YESSS! Kings of Convenience did not die five years ago! Sadly, information on the new KoC is sketch at best. All I've heard is that if Øye has his way the album will be called 'Quiet IS the New Loud.' Not to be confused with 'Quiet Is the New Loud,' an earlier album from the band. I also hear that it's very near completion with final work being done in the studio.

Also, he's putting his DJing on hiatus stating "I stopped working with electronic music as I realized it's much more fun to play live with KoC and WBA."

Speaking of that new Whitest Boy Alive album... (it's delicious)

Definitely sounds like he hasn't lost his touch.

devour:
The Whitest Boy Alive (MS) - Keep A Secret | Island

ST

Oh god yes.

I feel like there is a lot to look forward to in 2009. And ST is helping me to reinforce that right now.

Kind of banger. Kind of fucking awesome. Kind of from France. I promise I'm not biased. It's just fact that France contains enough electro to power a planet the size of Jupiter.

I don't know what it is with French people and naming shit after colors, but tonight, I won't even mention it.

ST (MS) - Blue | Orange

Pillage (France Strikes Back)

I've been in a bit of an electro drought lately. I freaked out on it for a while and then slowly slowly everything started to lose it's luster. And then today happened.

Pillage.

From Valerie of course. From France of course. And something out of Toulouse for once!!

Basically, I love every Valerie artist. They all share a very similar aesthetic - an aesthetic that I really see carrying the electro banner in the future. Pillage shares bits of that aesthetic, but in a much more accessible way. It's just a tad more clubby. It's just a tad more punchy. It's just a tad more... nineties. A small deviation for Valerie, but certainly not in the wrong direction.

I love it. It's three in the morning and I want to dance.

Pillage (MS) - Okay

Marina and the Diamonds

So I had to let this one sink in for a while. I wasn't sure how much I appreciated the mastered version until this very day.

This is great. I can't tell you how excited I am for the full length. Keep an eye on her. I feel a sensation coming along...

Marina and the Diamonds (MS) - 'Obsessions'

Thank god for NEON GOLD